Wagon hitch



SePt- 8, 1931 H. L. BAKER ET Al. 1,821,917

WAGON HITCH Filed Oct. 17, 1930 .Z7 /O K ff@ Patented Sept. 8, 1931 assalto 1,811,111

UTD, vS'i'i' PTNT FFIC HIB-AM L. BAKER AND MERVIN R. BAKER, OF LELAND, ILLINOIS WAGON HITCH Application filed Getober 1'?, 1930. Serial No. 489,246.

This invention relates to wagon hitches and more particularly to the adjustable type. One object of thc invention is the provision of a new and improved wagon hitch having novel means for adjusting 'the same for adjusting the wagon attached thereto to a greater or less distance from the hitch bar.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a. new and improved wagon hitch having means for adjusting the position of the wagon relative to the operating mechanism without stopping the forward movement of the tractor means.

Another object ot' the invention is the prol vision of al new and improved wagon hitch having extensible means for varying the disl tance between the wagon being draw n and the hitch bar, together with novel means tor automatically retracting the extensible means 2o when the same is released.

A further object of the invention is the novision of a new and improved wagon hitch that is simple in construction7 inexpensive to manufacture. efficient in operation, that may be readily assembled, and that is not likely to become broken or get out ol' order.

@ther and further objects and advantages oi the. invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings7 in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device as applied to a tractor and corn gathering mechanism showing the device on a somewhat enlarged scale relative to the tractor and the wagon;

Fig. 2 is a section. on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the rewinding mechanism.

Referring now tothe drawings. the reference character 10 designates generally a trac.- tor, 11 the corn harvester mechanism, and 12 a wagon, all ot which are of the usual or any well-known construction, these devices being shown more or less diagranin'iatically and on a smaller scale than the hitch mechanism which is designated generally by the reference. character 13. The gathering mechanism 11 is provided with the usual conveyor 14 tor transferring the Agathered. cern or hushed ears from the 1n xthank-ani 11 to a suitable receptacle such as the wagon body 15 of the wagon 12. In gathering corn it is necessary to provide means for receiving the corn as it is gathered. A wagon is universally employed for this purpose, and in loading the wagon it is necessary that it be moved relative to the conveyor 14 so that the load may be properly distributed within the wagon body.

llt is common practice to provide a wagon hitch comprising a hitch bar and a cable with means for attaching one end of the cable to the wagon and 'the other end in such a manner that the cable may be extended or retracted in order that the wagon may be moved relative to the conveyor 14, It isnecessary, however, to stop the tractor when the adjustment of the cable is to be made. This of course is objectionable because ot the loss ot' time in making the adjustment. c

The present invention seeks to remedy this dhiiculty by the provision ot a hitching device having extensible means that may be operated without stopping the tractor for adjusting the wagon relative to the conveyor. In the torm oit construct-ion shown, the reference character 1G designates a hitch bar, the inner end oit which connected to the corn gathering mechanism and its outer end is provided with an extension 17 hinged as at 18 to the outer end of the bar 16. This extension may be ot' any suitable form, that disclosed being the form of a pair of bars 19 and 21 connected together at their inner ends by the tic member 22.

Theti-e member 22 is adapted to engage the rear side of the bar 16 and limit the rearward moveinent ot the outer end ot the extension 17. The outer ends of the bars 19 and 21 are provided with aligned openings through which suitable bolts 23 and 24 are adapted to extend. These bolts are spaced apart to form a. guide 25 for the tongue 26 ot the wagon 12.

The extension 17 is pivoted as at 18 in order that the tongue may be more readily placed in position in the guide 25.

ln placing the tongue in position in said guide, it is placed alongside the end of the 1 l''x bar 16, the outer end of the extension 17 is moved forwardly, the outer bolt 24 is removed, after which the tongue is raised to position and the outer end o1 the extension 17 moved rearwardly for engaging the top and bottom of the tongue, after which the bolt 24 is replaced.

An extensible member, such as the traction cable 27 is provided for connecting the wagon to the Wagon hitch tor drawing the wagon along with the'hitch and the tractor. The outer end of the cable 27 is provided with a suitable loop through which the doubletree pin 28 may extend as is usual in such constructions.

Sui-table means are provided for anchoring the inner end of the cable 27 and 'for extending'said' cable When it is desired that the Wagon 12 be moved relative to the conveyor 14. ln the form of construction shown, a winding and control mechanism 29 is employed for this purpose.

This mechanismA is mounted on a draWbar 3-1 which is connected at its forward end to the tractor and at its rear end to an intermediate portion of the hitch bar 16. This mechanism comprises a. shaft 32 to which is rigidly connected the Winning drum rl`he shaft 32 is journaled in a bearing 34 on the drawbar 31 and' at its outer end is journaled in a support 35 which in turn has its end portions bent laterally andi rigidly connected to the drawbar 31. The inner end of the shalt is journaled in a supporting arm 30 rigidly connected to the dravvbar 31. The cable 27 has its inner or forward end' anchored to the drum 33 and is Wound on said drum.

rlhe cable 27 extends about suitable guide pulleys 36 and 37, the latter being mounted in the extension 17 as clearly shown in 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Means are also provided for controlling the rotation of the drum 33 when it is desired to change the relation of' the Wagon 12 to the conveyor 14. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. ln the torni of construction selected to illustrate one enibodiment of the invention this means comprises a brake drum 38 keyed to the shaft 32 and provided with a brake band 39 for tric tionally engaging the drum 38. A brake lever 41 fulcrumed as at 42 on a standard 43 on the dravvbar 31 has its outer end connectcd to one end of the brake band 39 as at 44 and has its opposite end extendingwvithin convenient reach of the driver of the'tractor, to be operated.

The opposite end of the brake band 39 is connected to the lever 41 between its outer end and the fulcrum 42 by an adjustable link 45, as shown in Fig. 2' of the drawings.

The brale band 39 is held in bralre drum engaging position by any appropriate m chanism. In the construction shown, it is resiliently held in position for gripping the brake drum by a spring 46 mounted on a rod 47, one end which is pivotally connected to the lever 41 and its other end slidably extending lthrough an opening in the draivbar 31. A collar is .idjustably mounted on the rod 47 for constituting an adjustable abutment for the upper end ol' the spring.

ln the operation ot the device, when the conveyor 14 has filled the rear end of the Wagon body, the operator presses down on the lever 41 which will permit the Wagon to lag behind the tractor, and when the wagen reaches the desired position the operator releases the lever 41 and the spring 46 causes the band 39 to grip the drum 38 and hold the cable 27 from further movement. This is repeated until the entire Wagon body has been lilled.

lt desirable that appropriate means be provided tor automatically rewinding the cable when the tension on the same is released. This tension may be released either by releasing the end ol the cable from the pin 28 or may be released by moving` the tractor backward relative to the Wagon. Any suitable mechanism may be employedL 'for this purpose. ln the torni of construction shown in Fig. i, which is by Way of example only, the inner end oi' the shaft 32 has keyed thereto a drum 49 which is considerably smaller in diameter than the drum 33.

A retracting cable 51 is anchored to the drum 4S) and is adapted to be Wound thereon in the opposite direction `lronrthe cable 27 on the drum 33. The outer end of the cable is connected to a suitable spring' 52 which is suitably anchored at its outer end as at 53 and is connected at inner end to the cable 51 as at 54. i suitable guide such as the pulley 55 is provided for changing the direction or" the pull on the cable 51.

ln the operation oft the device when the drum 38 is released and the cable 27 is paid out the rotation of the drum 33 for unwinding the cable 27 will rotate the drum 49 'for Winding the cable 51 thereon, thereby tensioning the spring 52. lVhen, for any reason, it is desired to advance the Wagon relative to the tractor, the tractor is moved rearwardly, the lever 41 is operated torelease the brake band, and the spring 52 will take up the slack.

lhen it is desired to release the Wagon, it is only necessary to move the tractor rearwardly slightly for relieving the tension on the cable 27, and after the cable has been released the lever may be operated to release the brake band, whereby the spring 52 will cause the cable to be Wound on the drum 33. Y Y

rlhe form of construction shown in Fig. 4 l

anchored to the brace member 30 is mounted on the shaft 32a and is adapted to be wound up or placed under torsion when the traction cable 27 is unwound therefrom, whereby when the tension on the cable is released the torsion of the spring 56 will rewind the same on the drum 35a.

IVe claim as our invention:

l. In a device of the class described, a wagon hitch bar, a pulley on one end thereof, a drawbar having its rear end connected to said hitch bar, diii'erential winding mechanism' mounted on said drawbar and comprising a brake drum and a pair of winding drums of dillerent diameters, a traction lable having one end wound in one direction 011 one of said winding drums and having its other end extending about said pulley,a cable wound in an opposite direction about the other winding drum, and a spring having one end anchored and its other end connected to said last-named cable, and means for holding said brake drum in adjusted position.

2. In a wagon hitch, a hitch bar having one end connected to a farm implement, a drawbar secured to said hitch bar between the ends thereof. a winding drum, means tor mounting said drum on said draw bar, a cable attached to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon, guide means on the outer end ot said hitch ba' around which said cable extends, the free end of said cable being adapted to be attached to a vehicle for drawing the same, means for adjustably holding said drum at any angularly adliusted position. and means for normally maintaining said drum in position with said cable wound thereon.

3. In a wagon hitch for corn harvester mechanism, a hitch bar adapted to be connected at one end to said mechanism and to extend laterally therefrom. a draw bar connected to an intermediate portion of sai-d hitch bar and extending 'forwardly therefrom and adapted to be attached to means for propelling said harvester mechanism, a winding drum, means `for mounting said drum, a traction cable secured to sai-d drum and adapted tobe wound thereon, a guide around which said cable is adapted to extend for connecting` the same to a wagon., yielding means tending to maintain said. cable wound on said drum` and means for holding said drum in adjusted position.

4. In a wagon hitch, a hitch bar, a guide in the outer end of said bar, a draw bar connected to an intermediate portion of said hitch bar, a winding drum mounted between the ends of said bar, a cable attached to said drum and extending through said guide, wagon attaching means on 'the free end of said cable, means including a resilient wound on said drum, and means for holding sai-d drum in 'adj usted position.

5. A wagon hitch comprising mechanism ior attaching a harvester to a transporting device, and including means for transporting a wagon, a shaft associated with said mechanism, a pair of drums of unequaldiameter mounted on and rotatable with said shaft, a cable for each drum, said cables being wound in opposite directions on said drum, one of said cables being adapted to be attached to a wagon for drawing the same, aA spring attached to the other cable for normally tensioning the same for rotating said drum in.

a direction for winding said first-named cable on its respective drum when said wagon is released or when slack is created between said wagon and transporting device, a brake drum, a brake band on said drum, a lever for tightening said band on its cooperating drum, and resilient means for normally moving said lever into band tightening position.

In combination, a tractor, an agricultural machine, a wagon, means for drawing said machine and wagon by said tractor, said means comprising a hitch bar having one end connected to said machine, a draw bar having its forward end detachably con-. nected to said tractor and its rear end detacliably connected to said hitch bar at a substantial distance irom both ends, a conveyor carried by said machine and adapted to transfer material from said machine to said wagon, means including a member engaging said hitch bar and wagon for changing the relative positions of said conveyor and wagon for loading different portions of said wagon, said last-named means being operative during the continued movement of said tractor and including a lever accessible to the operator on said tractor.

7. In a wagon hitch mechanism a pair of winding drums, a brake drum, a c-ommon shaft for all said drums, a cable for each winding drum so attached that when one is wound on its respective drum the other will be unwound from the drum to which it is attached. a spring attached to the free end of the cable on one drum, means on the free end of the other cable for attachment to a wagon. a brake band, means for causing said brake band to automatically grip said brake drum, and a lever for manually releasing said brake band.

8. In a wagon hitch, a tractor, a drawbar means including a spring element forV resiliently resisting the unwndng of said cable, and means for holding said drum in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatlu'es'.

HIRAM L. BAKER. MERVIN R. BAKER. 

